Westmoreland County will launch its celebration of America’s 250th birthday this weekend with a symbolic light-up ceremony at the heart of the county seat.
On Saturday afternoon, officials will illuminate the “Westmoreland” sign in front of the courthouse in Greensburg. The event serves as the official kickoff for a yearlong series of local programs marking the nation’s Semiquincentennial in 2026.
“Westmoreland County has a significant history that connects its story to the history of the United States. This is our way of starting 2026 and our 250th anniversary of the founding of a country in a meaningful way,” said Dawn Lamuth, director of culture and community connections for Go Laurel Highlands.
Lamuth also serves as the county coordinator for America250PA, the statewide commission overseeing the 250th anniversary celebrations across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
The kickoff is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. in the public meeting room inside the Westmoreland County Courthouse. Following remarks and presentations, the celebration will move outdoors, where the Westmoreland sign will be bathed in red, white and blue lights.
The ceremony will include musical performances by Ligonier Valley High School Air Force Junior ROTC and students from Westmoreland Performing Arts.
The courthouse complex will feature new visual displays for the anniversary. Commemorative flags and banners will be unfurled at the courthouse, and a large-scale sign marking the milestone will be installed on the pedestrian bridge over Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Westmoreland sign is expected to remain lit nightly through at least July 4, while the courthouse dome will be illuminated in red, white and blue periodically throughout the year.
According to Lamuth, these visual tributes are just the beginning, as additional birthday events are planned across the county for the remainder of 2026.
